The Jane Gifford: Restoration
A new Jane Gifford Restoration Trust has been formed, owns the vessel and with fundraising and grants, restoration work is well under way.
No original plans of the Jane Gifford exist, but her restoration is as near to authentic as possible. The keel and bottom planking remain; the rest of the original structure was unusable.
While the Jane Gifford has been restored true to her appearance, some concessions have had to be made for her 'rebirth' in the 21st century.
Two kilometres of rope will be needed for the old sailing scow's rigging, but the twisted hemp rope of yesteryear is no longer available. Modern materials are expected to slide through her 40 blocks which were all stripped down and re-galvanised, and refurbished with new macrocarpa cheeks. The ropes will be held fast by 40 belaying pins - all cleaned up and some replaced, ready for the re-launch. Helping to winch the ropes taunt are 18 deadeyes, made from hard-timbered pohutukawa. Her sails, supplied by the Jane Gifford Trust at Okahu Bay, are in good condition. They comprise a gaff mainsail, a gaff mizzen, three fore sails and two top sails. Powering the Jane Gifford are two four-cylinder 70 horsepower 4LW Gardner diesel motors, manufactured in Manchester in about 1958, fully reconditioned with new gearboxes.
Although the rebuilt Jane Gifford will be original in appearance, the design has been altered by the addition of water-tight bulkheads at the forward and aft end of the centre case to comply with survey requirements. She will then be considerably stronger than the original form of construction.
Two new gaff-rigged masts are being created from the old masts from the $13.5 million three-mast schooner Shenandoah, which sailed to New Zealand in 1998 for a refit. Her masts were donated to the Jane Gifford. The Oregon pine masts have been resized down from 18 inches to 11 inches in diameter, in accordance with the original design. The masts are 17 metres high, with 7.5 metre tapered top masts. The booms are 7.5 metres each, and the gaffs, half the eight-inch diameter of the booms, are 5 metres long.
Three volunteers have voluntarily given more than 200 hours work, in dirty and tedious conditions on the masts. They have shaved, sanded and caressed by hand the two giant masts needed for the Jane Gifford restoration project. Their motivation is simple, the restoration will save from the brink of extinction New Zealand's last rigged sailing scow.
The new masts are now 17 metres high, with 7.5 metre tapered top masts. Still awaiting them is the creation of new booms, 7.5 metres each, and the 5 metre gaffs, half the 8-inch diameter of the booms, and a massive new bowsprit.
There is no machine in New Zealand able to lathe the masts to the required diameter so modern technology helped reduce some of the bulk of the old masts, but the rest was adzed then shaved with a 100-year-old draw knife and an old spoke shave - used for the shaping of spokes in wooden wheels. Even the old saw is more than 100 years old and far superior to any modern saw. Much work was also required removing any damaged wood, scarfed out then replaced to stronger than the original.
There were four-days solid of back and forth with strips of sandpaper to ensure a consistent smoothness and roundness of the two masts.
Restoration of the hull is two-thirds complete and has already consumed $350,000 of donated funds. Another $200,000 is desperately needed to complete the project.
Wharves at Warkworth and Scotts Landing have been rebuilt and reinforced with heavy buffer piles to handle her 60 tonne displacement. Her permanent berth will be at the Warkworth wharf.
The Jane Gifford will be re-launched during her 100th anniversary in 2008.
She will be owned and operated by a the Jane Gifford Restoration Trust which is expected to continue the Jane Gifford's proud history over the next 100 years.
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THE PURPOSE OF THE RESTORATION
The Jane Gifford will be used as a passenger-carrying sailing vessel for tourism, youth training, weddings, special events, a flag ship for future Mahurangi Regattas, trips down the Mahurangi River and on the Hauraki Gulf. She will be able to carry up to 50 people and regular excursions will help pay for her ongoing maintenance. School children will be able to experience life as it was experienced by former generations. Local schools are enthusiastic about the project. It is anticipated that educational trips will be free.
See more photos in the resoration gallery... |
